READ RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL. HE WENT IN YOUR PLACE – PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME FRIDAY, JUNE 17TH 2016.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (Colossians 1:18).

The phrase in the theme verse, “the firstborn from the dead,” doesn’t mean the first to be raised from the dead. Prior to Jesus’ vicarious death, there were those who had been raised from the dead; so what the Apostle Paul communicates by the Spirit here, is different. When our sins were laid on Jesus on the cross, He died spiritually. Spiritual death is separation from God. Only through a spiritual rebirth does one awake from this death. Jesus Christ was the first born from spiritual death.

As Jesus hung on the cross, He suffered the agony of being separated from the Father: “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). This was a result of His being made the sin sacrifice, which automatically identified with sin: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

It should have been illegal for Jesus to be crucified and sent to hell, because He was innocent and without sin, but He went in our place. Recall the graphic details in Colossians 2:15 when He engaged Satan in that awful combat in hell, and defeated him and all the cohorts of darkness: “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” No one ever came out of spiritual death or out of Satan’s bondage, but Jesus did. He paid the full penalty for every man.

Thus, because a righteous man was given for sinners, it became legal, and possible, for sinners to be given His righteousness. He took our place of sin, that we might obtain His righteousness. Now, you’re as righteous as Jesus is! He’s made you the very expression of His righteousness. The righteousness that He was clothed with was made available to you, because He died for you, and when He came out of death, you came out in and with Him. Hallelujah!

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus, who became the very representation of sin on my behalf, and died in my place, so that I might be made righteous, and also be the expression of your righteousness. I walk in, and manifest, your righteousness today and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study: || Romans 5:17-18 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. ||

|| 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: ||

|| Isaiah 53:5-7 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. ||

Daily Scripture Reading

1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 7:1-53,
2 Chronicles 29-30

2-Year Bible Reading Plan: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10,
Isaiah 3

EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody of Realities Daily Devotional